Professor John Newton
Board of Governance Learning Activities Chair & Advisor
Experience, background and philosophy
Following early career experience in the public and private sectors in Australia and UK, John spent nearly three decades as a university-based, management educator and consultant at Swinburne and RMIT Universities before becoming as an independent consultant to managers and organisations. John brings both conceptual rigour and long experience of managers in a wide range of organisations into a client-focused, yet systemic, analysis of presenting problems and opportunities.
A founding contributor in Australia to the ‘systems psychodynamic’ approach to understanding and managing organisational effectiveness, John is particularly skilled in helping managers and staff to exercise their judgement in taking actions that best further the aims of their organisation. His consultation ranges from issues of authority, leadership and role clarity through to team dynamics and strategic thinking. Drawing from his long experience with action research, action learning and experiential education methods, John helps clients discover their own best practice within their context, including ways to manage anxieties and resistances to change and development.